Gordon

Yesterday afternoon Gordon, our peach faced lovebird of 18 years, passed away.

Some funny things about Gordon, he's actually a she. You see our family has never been good at figuring out the sex of a bird but after being named Gordon he laid an egg. I don't think that ever stopped us from referring to him as a "he" but I guess the nickname Gordie could have been considered a female name.

Gordon originally came to us as a finger trained lovebird. However, a few bites of mine or my brother's fingers and he quickly realized he didn't have to stay finger trained. Despite his hatred of fingers, Gordon loved sitting on your shoulder and cuddling up against the warmth of your neck. He would often push his beak against the back of your ear or, if you were brave like my brother, he would mush his beak right up next to your nose.

Oh and if you were ever eating anything, Gordon wanted some too. There has been many a morning in the Johnston household where my Dad and Gordon have shared breakfast - toast, cereal, whatever. Somehow this spoiled member of our family even had his own box of Carr's Table Water Crackers. Although I have to admit, they were usually the stale leftover ones we never got around to finishing.

But what will probably be missed the most is the sound of Gordon's chirp. It was the sound that always greeted you when you walked through the door. It was automatic to say hello to him when you got home. He was a part of the family and he's going to be missed.